15 grand castles that render the spirit of medieval Europe
There is something incredibly romantic about medieval stately mansions cresting picturesque European hills. They were witnesses of driving and mysterious ages, of brave knights, beautiful ladies and bloody battles. We will show you 15 magnificent castles that still exist and remain uncorrupted.
The castle was built in the 9th century on a hill that is almost 160 meters high. Currently, it is a popular place of attraction for tourists from around the world. This is the oldest castle in the country built on a precipice above the city of Bled, overlooking Lake Bled. The history of the place is very rich: it served as a residence of royal family for many years and then as a home to the famous Iosip Broz Tito. The fortress was built on the top of Hohenzollern Mountain between 1846 and 1867 by Hohenzollern scion King Frederick William IV of Prussia. It is one of the most popular touristic destinations in the country. Built in the province of Toledo in the 15th century the castle was used as an artillery fortress. Now its remains are popular with tourists and hikers. Being about 2 hundred years old, this castle is relatively young, but it is possibly the most romantic-looking castle in the world. No wonder it inspired Disney studio to create their Sleeping Beauty castle. Château de Chillon is situated at the bank of Geneva Lake and consists of 15 elements built at different time. Its incredibly rich history and recognizable exterior inspired many poets and writers, for example, Lord Byron. Located on a rocky island, it is thought to be one of the most romantic castles in Scotland. Eilean Donan is famous for its heather honey and ancient legends. Since the moment of its erection in the 14th century the castle had several different owners and each of them loved fighting. As a result, by the 20th century the castle turned into ruins. Fortunately, it was bought by Lord Curzon in 1917 and totally restored. It is one of the oldest castles in Italy and an architectural landmark of San Marino. If you ever visit this tiny republic, this is certainly number 1 place to see. Built in 1320 by Clan MacDougall the castle had belonged to different families up to the middle of the 20th century. In 1965, Lt. Col. D. R. Stewart Allward negotiated terms for the purchase of the Castle and spent the next ten years rebuilding and restoring it as it is today. This magnificent and mysterious castle can be called an architectural pearl of Transylvania. As the legend goes, the castle once belonged to famous Vlad Tepes, a prototype of Bram Stoker’s Dracula. This medieval fortress was built by Swedish knights in 1293 during one of their military expeditions and later belonged to Finland. In 1710, the castle was taken by Peter the Great of Russia. Now it is situated in the town of Vyborg 135 km away from St. Petersburg and is open to public as a museum. The castle was the traditional seat of the kings of Munster for several hundred years prior to the Norman invasion. In 1101, the King of Munster donated his fortress on the Rock to the Church because the place is closely connected with the legend about St. Patrick. At present, it is the most visited Heritage site in Ireland. This castle is almost a thousand years old. It was built as a residence of Conrad III of Germany and in 17th century was used as a residence of Louis XIV of France. In 1689, the castle was burnt by French army and would have disappeared completely, but for a German businessman who bought the ruins in 1868 and spent a lot of money to restore it. Located on one of the islands in Normandy and surrounded by water, the castle was an unassailable fortress in the mediaeval times. It was erected as far back as 709 and still boggles one’s mind with its grandeur.#1 Hochosterwitz Castle, Austria
#2 Bled Castle, Slovenia
#3 Hohenzollern Castle, Germany
#4 Barcience Castle, Spain
#5 Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany
#6 Chillon Castle, Switzerland
#7 Eilean Donan Castle, Scotland
#8 Bodiam Castle, England
#9 Guaita Fortress, San Marino
#10 Castle Stalker, Scotland
#11 Bran Castle, Romania
#12 Vyborg Castle, Russia
#13 Rock of Cashel, Ireland
#14 Reichsburg Cochem, Germany
#15 Mont Saint Michel, France
Have you ever visited any of these castles? Are you a fan of medieval history and architecture? Please tell us in the comments!
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